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After working on several projects with Wu-Tang spin-off group Sunz of Man, teaming up with Tragedy Khadafi and Killah Priest to form Black Market Militia, and releasing the revolutionary album Freedom of Speech in 2004 with producer 4th Disciple, Hell Razah finally releases his official debut album, Renaissance Child.
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Download this album
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With its
solid list of featured artists and an astounding twelve producers, it
makes you wonder is Razah as sharp as he used to be.
The journey begins with two solo tracks, the slow horn-blowing “Nativity” (producer Krohme) and the brooding “Buried Alive” (prod. Dirty Needlez). With a line-up of Tragedy Khadafi, Timbo King, and R.A. the Rugged Man, “Renaissance Man” (prod. Dev1) was set-up with high expectations. The flat voices over a monotonous beat left my ears unfulfilled.
Luckily, the aptly-titled “Project Jazz”(prod. MF Doom) jump-started the album back on track. In classic Wu-style (i.e. speeding up jazzy rhythms of the sax, bongo drums, and organ), Razah, Talib Kweli, and Viktor Vaughn give love and respect for the pioneers of Soul and Jazz. The definitive sound of spray paint cans shaking links the roots of the culture of hip-hop.
With the reunion of 4th Disciple and Hell Razah on “Glow,” it is a guaranteed classic hip-hop track. Disciple scratches records over fleshy thumps and light, catchy keyboard strokes. A song of a once-repressed rapper who shows up the competition. Razah then threatens “You want a hit a record, tell your label to cut me a check/I’ll leave him scared to rhyme, have a verse stuck in his neck.”
The revolutionary is revealed in several verses throughout the album, but none as prominent as in “Chain Gang” (prod. DJ Battle), “Runaway Sambo” (prod. Smokeshop Productions) and “Smoking Gunz.” Each provides the melody of a history lesson and the march of triumph. Razah and Killah Priest propose a plan of action through their music in “Smoking Gunz.”
Renaissance Child wraps up with the religious ballad “Lost Ark” and Razah’s ode to humanity and his fans in “Thankful” (prod. Shuko). The album’s consistency makes it go down like a hearty meal.
Download: The entire album
To
purchase CDs, click on the cover art or title link. To legally
download, click on the iTunes logo. If you do not have iTunes, you can
download it here by clicking the "download iTunes" logo above.
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